Theatre is at heart of Ayr

I hope that Andrew Bryden, writing in last week’s Post, enjoyed the Blues Band as much as the rest of the audience.

I expect he did as I know he writes, even if critically, from a love for theatre.

But I was disappointed that he chose to attack our dedicated volunteers and the essential support from the council.

So I hope you don’t mind me helping Andrew out with a few facts through your pages.

The Gaiety Theatre has the lowest level of public sector support of any similar theatre in Scotland.

We have a much smaller staff team than most theatres, all paid no more than industry rates.

So without our amazing 200 volunteers and the relatively small but vital council support there would be no theatre. It’s as simple as that.

And no Gaiety would mean we wouldn’t have:

Over 200 performances a year for 65,000 audience members

Around 35 jobs in the building ( most filled by young people)

A major draw boost to the local economy

Thousands of young people engaged in learning through theatre

A new career path in technical theatre with Ayrshire College and University of the West of Scotland

50 professional performances a year in rural towns and villages

Support for people with dementia in care homes and at the theatre

Town centre initiatives like Tamfest, where the Gaiety is a core partner.

It’s precisely because we do make a major economic contribution to Ayr, bringing jobs and training for young people as well as entertainment and culture, that South Ayrshire Council is considering its continued support for us.

We already deliver incredible value for money in return and our plans will increase our contribution to South Ayrshire in the future.

We’ve been able, I hope, to make this point during several months of negotiation with diligent councillors and officers.

But if Andrew or indeed any of your other readers doubts any of this I repeat the offer I made last time he wrote in similar terms: give me a call and meet to talk through your concerns.

In the meantime I’m back to checking arrangements for our next few months of shows and hope we’ll see many of your readers at them in the coming months. I am really mad at the slating South Lodge received in the Post last week.

I think I now realise how the council works. It appears to me they give bad reviews on places they want to close time and time again until they get their way and close them down.

As for saving money, who was held responsible for wasting £ 100,000 on the cycle lane? Was anyone held responsible and slated for that?

I only wish some of them had some grey matter and put council money to better use but they are too set in their ways. Having a football conversation today with a few supporters, I said that in the 60s when I was young all the boys and myself who lived in Craigie went over at half- time and the gates at Somerset Park were opened to allow entry to watch the game for free.

They all said I was talking rubbish and that they have never heard of anyone entering for free at half- time.

What I would like to ask is can anyone remember this and, if so, when did Ayr United stop allowing free entry into the game at half- time?

It might not be such a bad idea, especially with the current winning run to boost atmosphere. Plans have been refused by South Ayrshire Council planners for a new 52- bedroom care home in Templehill, Troon.

The main reason sited is that it goes against the local development plan as this site is for business and industry.

They then go on to state that it’s needed for any extension to the adjacent industrial site, which by my reckoning employs less than the 50- plus people needed for the care home.

Regarding the site, as a resident of Troon this site has been an eyesore for a very long time now and surely if someone wants to develop it and give employment at the same time to the local community, in my opinion, bring it on. Ayr Central and BuyMSH Appeal have announced they will hold autism- friendly quiet sessions at the shopping centre’s Santa’s Grotto this year.

Children with autism spectrum disorder can be over- sensitive or undersensitive to noise, light, clothing or temperature, meaning the experience can prove stressful for them.

The centre and charity still want these children to have a magical Christmas experience so there will be a designated quiet session, designed for youngsters with autism or with sensory or learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities.

During the quiet session Santa and the Elves will be able to spend more time with children, if they require it, to ensure each child has a very special Christmas and Santa experience.

The simple change to Santa’s Grotto will allow families to share an enjoyable Christmas outing, creating lasting memories.

The initiative is also being supporting by Ayr Central toy store Toytown, who will be holding quiet shopping sessions in store.

The quiet session will be held on Sunday, December 10, between 11am and noon. A visit to the Grotto costs £ 7, with all proceeds going to Ayrshire’s BuyMSH appeal. Having been to The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry and seen the pictures from Illuminate in Kilmarnock, what are the chances of South Ayrshire Council putting on something similar next year?

Rozelle would be perfect: market stalls all the way up the drive, light shows and water displays.

Surely something like this would bring a lot of money to the area. Douglas Gardiner from recycling services lifted the recycling champion award at the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee’s national Celebration Awards .

East Ayrshire Council was the only Scottish council to win an award.

Douglas won the recycling champion award for his work developing the recycling and waste collection strategy. The strategy focused on providing communities with a full range of kerbside recycling and the council is set to make further improvements to the strategy in the coming months.

Douglas deserves this recognition for his commitment to improving recycling rates and the excellent service provided to our residents.

East Ayrshire will be the first local authority in Scotland to introduce an innovative recycling trolley.

The trolley, which will replace the blue bin, will allow paper, card, glass, cans and household plastics and cartons to be stacked and wheeled to the pavement together. This will make recycling easier for residents and allow recycling collections to move to weekly.